Brian Hoberecht, head coach of SMC's first opponent on Wednesday, Kilgore (Texas) College, said he didn't know the Pioneers were undefeated.

“I thought they had lost a couple,” Hoberecht said. “They're 32-0?”

Kilgore will try to make it 32-1 and done.

The Rangers easily won their first-round game Monday night, 80-58, against Shelton State of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The Rangers (26-4) are seeded No. 15 in the 24-team tournament and are also ranked at that spot.

Shelton State, seeded No. 18, lost by 10 points to SMC during a mid-December tournament in Aiken.

Kilgore earned an at-large berth to this event after falling in the Region 14 semifinals to Lee College of Texas, which beat Hagerstown (Md.) in a wild one Monday, 104-97. SMC comes in with a perfect record and a No. 2 overall seed.

One benefit Kilgore will have, Hoberecht said, is that the Pioneers have to wait until 1 p.m. Wednesday to get their first action in the single-elimination tournament.

“I've always felt that (teams without a first-round bye) have an advantage,” he said, “because they've gotten the anxiousness of the first game out of the way, they've been in the arena and actually played on the rims. They've turned and squared and looked down the floor 94 feet and seen what the backdrop is like.

“I think it does matter. How significant is that? I don't know if it changes the outcome of games, but I do think it matters because we'll be a little more comfortable on Wednesday.”

Some of SMC's key players have been on this court, however. The Pioneers, making their first appearance last season since 1999, had three games. Kilgore hasn't been in the event since 1994.

“The biggest key is to develop a game plan that we feel fits our team against Spartanburg,” Hoberecht said. “… We'll go back and start watching film and breaking them down, but it's going to be more about Kilgore and what we do as opposed to disrupting what they do.”

Kilgore had a 36-22 lead at halftime and pulled away by shooting 58 percent after that. Sophomore guard Lonnie McLanahan had 19 points and six assists in only 20 minutes. The Rangers won despite 23 turnovers and allowing 13 steals. They had 19 assists on 26 baskets.

“I thought it was a great win,” Hoberecht said. “I thought our guys were very good at controlling the tempo of the game tonight. … I thought that was important against a team that plays a little chaotic and presses and tries to speed you up as much as they do. We wanted to be opportunistic, but you can't get into a track meet with them. That plays into their strengths.”

Kilgore had 49 points off the bench and all 10 players who participated were in there for at least 12 minutes.

<p>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Maybe it's because Spartanburg Methodist is not the No. 1 overall seed of the NJCAA tournament.</p><p>Brian Hoberecht, head coach of SMC's first opponent on Wednesday, Kilgore (Texas) College, said he didn't know the Pioneers were undefeated.</p><p>“I thought they had lost a couple,” Hoberecht said. “They're 32-0?”</p><p>Kilgore will try to make it 32-1 and done.</p><p>The Rangers easily won their first-round game Monday night, 80-58, against Shelton State of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The Rangers (26-4) are seeded No. 15 in the 24-team tournament and are also ranked at that spot. </p><p>Shelton State, seeded No. 18, lost by 10 points to SMC during a mid-December tournament in Aiken.</p><p>Kilgore earned an at-large berth to this event after falling in the Region 14 semifinals to Lee College of Texas, which beat Hagerstown (Md.) in a wild one Monday, 104-97. SMC comes in with a perfect record and a No. 2 overall seed.</p><p>One benefit Kilgore will have, Hoberecht said, is that the Pioneers have to wait until 1 p.m. Wednesday to get their first action in the single-elimination tournament.</p><p>“I've always felt that (teams without a first-round bye) have an advantage,” he said, “because they've gotten the anxiousness of the first game out of the way, they've been in the arena and actually played on the rims. They've turned and squared and looked down the floor 94 feet and seen what the backdrop is like.</p><p>“I think it does matter. How significant is that? I don't know if it changes the outcome of games, but I do think it matters because we'll be a little more comfortable on Wednesday.”</p><p>Some of SMC's key players have been on this court, however. The Pioneers, making their first appearance last season since 1999, had three games. Kilgore hasn't been in the event since 1994.</p><p>“The biggest key is to develop a game plan that we feel fits our team against Spartanburg,” Hoberecht said. “… We'll go back and start watching film and breaking them down, but it's going to be more about Kilgore and what we do as opposed to disrupting what they do.”</p><p>Kilgore had a 36-22 lead at halftime and pulled away by shooting 58 percent after that. Sophomore guard Lonnie McLanahan had 19 points and six assists in only 20 minutes. The Rangers won despite 23 turnovers and allowing 13 steals. They had 19 assists on 26 baskets.</p><p>“I thought it was a great win,” Hoberecht said. “I thought our guys were very good at controlling the tempo of the game tonight. … I thought that was important against a team that plays a little chaotic and presses and tries to speed you up as much as they do. We wanted to be opportunistic, but you can't get into a track meet with them. That plays into their strengths.”</p><p>Kilgore had 49 points off the bench and all 10 players who participated were in there for at least 12 minutes.</p>